Tabletop game with lighted features

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a game having accentuating light emanating through or from a translucent playing surface, sidewalls, and/or representative players.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/224,051, filed Aug. 20, 2002, titled “TABLETOPGAME WITH LIGHTED PLAYING FIELD.”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to tabletop games and, moreparticularly, to tabletop sports games, such as foosball, baseball,basketball, bowling, hockey, or the like, having lighted fixtures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Many arcade style tabletop games exists. Some of the more populararcade style tabletop games simulate soccer (or football as it is knownoutside of the United States) and hockey. These games typically comprisea tabletop playing field that simulates the field and players of theactual game. While the below application refers to soccer simulations,a.k.a. foosball games, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognizeother tabletop games can be substituted for foosball.

[0004] A foosball table includes rows of representative athletes,suspended like pendulums from control rods that are mounted transverselyabove a playing field. Players slide and rotate the control rods to makethe athletes kick a small ball, attempting to score a goal. Therepresentative athletes are suspended over a playing field thatrepresents a traditional soccer field. Often times, the traditionalfield is modified in the corners to provide a slope so the foosball doesnot get caught in the corner. Instead of slopes, some style foosballgames have representative goalies (one or more) that can extend into theone or the other of the corners.

[0005] While generally enjoyable in its own right, these tabletop gamesfrequently do not sustain the interest of players for any length oftime. Thus, it would be desirable to produce a tabletop game havingadditional features to increase interest in the tabletop game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose ofthe invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a tabletop gameis provided having a clear, translucent or semi-translucent surface. Alight source is placed under the surface.

[0007] Another feature of the present invention is a tabletop game withlighted representative players. Still another feature of the presentinvention is a tabletop game with lighted sidewalls.

[0008] The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of thepresent invention, and together with the description, serve to explainthe principles thereof. Like items in the drawings are referred to usingthe same numerical reference.

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a foosball game illustrative ofthe present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 shows a side plan view of the foosball game illustrative ofthe present invention;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a playing surface associated withone potential embodiment of the present invention; and

[0013]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a tabletop game illustrativeof the playing surface described in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present invention will be further explained with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a representation of asoccer field is generally illustrated by playing field 10. Playing field10 may include indicia of a regulation soccer field including, forexample, goalie box 12, Center kickoff circle 14, center line 16, andthe like. Playing field 10 is surrounded by sidewall 18. Instead ofregulation markings, playing field 10 may have indicia of players,whimsical designs, or the like.

[0015] Playing field 10 is made, at least in part, of a material clear,transparent, translucent, or semi-translucent to light. For simplicity,the term translucent as used in this application, is intended toencompass anything other than opaque. For example, playing field 10could be a clear plastic, glass, colored plastic, colored glass, afrosted glass like surface, or the like. Further, playing field 10 couldhave portions of the playing surface translucent (including varyingdegrees of translucence) or opaque to form patterns and designs in theplaying surface. Still further, playing field 10 could be designed tohave a lighting effect that may reflect, refract, or disburse light,such as, for example, a prism. A light source, which will be explainedfurther below, can be placed below the playing field 10, providing alighted surface on which foosball could be played.

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 2, a side plan view of the foosball tableis provided. Residing beneath playing field 10, is at least one lightsource 20. As shown, light source 20 could be a single florescent lighttube extending down the center of the playing surface. Of course, thetabletop game could be designed so that the light is completely orpartially enclosed by the sidewalls. However, multiple rows offlorescent light tubes may be used. Further, light tubes could bearranged parallel or diagonal to the long or short dimension of theplaying field 10. Other types of lights, however, could also bepossible, such as, incandescent lights, halogen lights, light strings(such as Christmas lights), lcds, leds, lasers, electro luminescentlight sources, chemical light sources, light tubes, flexible lightwires, or the like. Still further, one or more light sources may bemounted in sidewalls so lights tubes, such as florescent lights wouldnot have to run the length of the playing field. In general, almost anyarrangement of light can be provided depending on the lighting effectdesired. Further, light source 20 could be a strobe light or other lightthat has an on and off feature, similar to a timer, or a string ofblinking Christmas lights. Still further, it would be possible to have adimmer to manually or automatically control the brightness of lightsource 20. Finally, a timer could be used to control an on and offpattern of the lights and the dimmer.

[0017] Instead of having light source 20 reside beneath the playingfield 10 as shown, it would be possible to mold a glass or plasticplaying surface such that one or more tubes or conduits 32 existed inthe playing field 10, as shown in phantom in FIG. 3. For example, FIG. 3shows three conduits 32 molded in playing field 10. In this case,conduits 32 are open to each end 34 of playing field 10, but conduits 10could be open on one, both, or neither side. If ends 34 and conduits 32are not open, light could be coupled, refracted, or reflected intoconduits 32 through a solid end 34. While conduits 32 are showngenerally straight and parallel the longer dimension of playing field10, other configurations are possible. Conduits 32, for example, do notneed to be identical, could be curved, could be part curved and partstraight, could be diagonal, or the like. Further, conduits 32 are shownwith a cylindrical geometric shape, but other shapes are possiblewhether irregular, random, or geometric. Further, ridges, grooves andother imperfections in the conduits may cause desirable lighting effects(such as a prism effect).

[0018]FIG. 3 shows optional reflective layer 36. Instead of reflectivelayer 36, a reflective surface 38 could be supplied, which is shown inphantom. Reflective layer 36 or reflective surface 38 can be anyconventional light reflecting surface, such as a mirror or mirroredcoating on, for example, glass. While reflective layer 36 or reflectivesurface 38 could be used with any light source mentioned to providedvarious lighting effects, it is contemplated that reflective layer 36 orreflective surface 38 would enhance the ability of light source(s) 20residing along a sidewall to illuminate areas of playing field 10 notsubstantially adjacent light source(s) 20.

[0019] It is believe using reflective layer 36 or reflective surface 38will reduce the amount of light the light source needs to provide. Byreducing the amount of light the light source needs to provide, it ishoped that the number of lights that need to be packaged will bereduced.

[0020] A light source (not shown in FIG. 3) could be placed such thatlight from the source shines down conduits 32. Instead of simplyproviding a light source, conduits 32 could be lined to enhance thelight or light carrying ability. Further, emitting tubes could be placedin conduits 32 to assist in light transmission. Such light carryingtubes are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,076, titled“METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHT TRANSMISSION,” issued on Mar. 9, 1999.Other light tubes include electro luminescent lights as described in,for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,335, titled “ELECTROLUMINESCENT LIGHTSOURCES,” issued on Jan. 16, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,930, titled“ELECTROLUMINESCENT LIGHT SOURCE WITH A MIXTURE LAYER FILLED WITH ATRANSPARENT FILLER SUBSTANCE,” issued on Feb. 9, 1999, and U.S. Pat. No.6,400,093, titled “FLEXIBLE ELECTROLUMINESCENT LIGHT SOURCE WITH ACTIVEPROTECTION FROM MOISTURE,” issued Jun. 4, 2002, incorporated byreference. Electro luminescent light sources are sometimes known asflexible light wire. Other light sources include chemical luminescentcompositions, which are sometimes known as light sticks, such as U.S.Pat. No. 4,313,843, titled “SUPERIOR OXALATE ESTER CHEMICAL LIGHTINGSYSTEM,” issued on Feb. 2, 1982, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,608, titled“CHEMILUMINESCENT COMPOSITION,” issued on Jul. 7, 1987. All of which areincorporated herein by reference.

[0021] Referring back to FIG. 1, residing substantially about playingsurface 10 are a plurality of representative players 22. While not shownin detail, one or more players 22 could incorporate various types oflights also. For example, flexible light wire could be used toilluminate an edge of one or more players 22, LCD light sources could beused to illuminate a strike surface 22s on one or more players 22. It iscontemplated that players 22 could have some type of electro luminescentlight source or chemical luminescent light source because, formanufacturing purposes, it would be difficult to supply a power sourceto players 22. However, other styles of light sources can be used, suchas, conventional lights, lasers, strobes, halogens, fluorescents, andthe like. Power for lights could be supplied by running power throughbars 24 on which players 22 reside, in this case, by batteries (notshown) contained in players 22, or the like. Other style games may havemore or less options for supplying power to players 22. For example, ahockey style game typically has runners in playing surface 10 instead ofbars 24 for players 22. Thus, contacts could be supplied along therunners to enable power to players 22.

[0022] Tabletop games, be they foosball games, table hockey games,football games, or baseball games, basketball games, or the likegenerally define playing field 10 by a sidewall 18. As mentioned above,sidewall 18 may have lights affixed to reduce other lightingrequirements. Further, sidewall 18 may also be translucent, opaque, or acombination thereof to provide reflective light from light source 20 ora separate light source (not shown). Moreover, in some embodiments ofthe present invention, playing field 10 may be completely opaque, butsidewall 18 may be at least partially translucent to allow light topass.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 4, a tabletop game 400 is shown using thereflective surface 38. As shown by the cross sectional view, game 400has a playing surface 10 surrounded by sidewalls 18. For convenience,one representative player 22 (the goalie) is shown on a series of crossbars 24. Under playing surface 10 is light source 20 arranged onsidewall 18. Sidewall 18 can be arranged as shown to have a continuousside, or sidewall 18 could be broken into separate parts, such as aplaying field portion above playing field 10 and a support portion belowplaying field 10. In this case, a single light source 20 is shownbetween playing field 10 and a reflective surface 38, such as a mirror.Arrows 42 indicate how the single light source 20 can illuminate theentire playing field by reflecting light off of surface 38. If playingsurface 10 had a layer or coating 44 of a partially reflective material,more light would be transmitted to side 200 opposite light source 20.Partially reflective means some light passes through layer 44 and someis reflected back to reflective surface 38. The amount of light actuallypassed by the partially reflective material is a matter of designchoice. FIG. 4 also shows a ball drop 46. If, as mentioned above, lightsare provided on players 22, power could be supplied to the players bywires 48 running through cross bars 24.

[0024] While the invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to particular embodiment(s) thereof, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in theform and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

We claim:
 1. A game, comprising: a playing surface; the playing surfacehaving a top side and a bottom side; the top side comprising at leastone portion that can pass light; and at least one light arranged, suchthat light from the at least one light traverses through the at leastone portion of the top side of the playing surface.
 2. The gameaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a reflective surface below theplaying surface.
 3. The game according to claim 1, further comprising: areflective layer on the bottom side of the playing surface.
 4. The gameaccording to claim 1, wherein the playing surface comprises: at leastone conduit.
 5. The game according to claim 4, wherein the at least onelight transmits light along the at least one conduit.
 6. The gameaccording to claim 5, wherein light radiates out of at least one sectionof the at least one conduit.
 7. The game according to claim 5, the atleast one light further comprises at least one light transmittingelement residing in the at least one conduit.
 8. The game according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one light is a plurality of lights.
 9. Thegame according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light is mounted toa sidewall.
 10. The game according to claim 1, wherein the at least onelight source comprises: at least one of a florescent light, anincandescent light, a halogen light, a light string, a lcd, a led, alaser, an electroluminescent light source, a chemical light source, alight tube, or a flexible light wire.
 11. The game according to claim 1,further comprising: at least a second light arranged in a portion of asidewall residing above the playing surface.
 12. The game according toclaim 1, further comprising: at least one representative player; and theat least one representative player having at least one player lightsource.
 13. The game according to claim 12, further comprising: at leastone cross bar arranged to hold the at least one representative playerabove the playing surface; and at least one power feed; such that the atleast one power feed runs through the at least one cross bar to the atleast one player light source to supply power to the at least one playerlight source.
 14. The game according to claim 12, wherein the at leastone player light source comprises at least one of a florescent light, anincandescent light, a halogen light, a light string, a lcd, a led, alaser, an electroluminescent light source, a chemical light source, alight tube, or a flexible light wire.
 15. The game according to claim 1,further comprising: at least one sidewall arranged above and around atleast a part of the playing surface; and the at least one sidewallcapable of transmitting light.
 16. The game according to claim 1,wherein the playing surface provides at least one lighting effect. 17.The game according to claim 16, wherein the lighting effect is a prismeffect.
 18. The game according to claim 2, wherein at least one of theplaying surface and the reflective surface provide at least one lightingeffect.
 19. A game comprising: a playing surface; the playing surfacehaving at least one portion that can pass light; and means fortransmitting light, the means for transmitting light causing light topass out through the at least one portion of the playing surface, suchthat light radiating out of the at least one portion of the playingsurface can be viewed from above the playing surface.
 20. The gameaccording to claim 19, wherein the means for transmitting lightcomprises: at least one light source.
 21. The game according to claim20, wherein the at least one light source resides below the playingsurface and the means for transmitting light further comprises areflective surface below the at least one light source.
 22. The gameaccording to claim 21, the means for transmitting light furthercomprises at least one conduit in the playing surface, such that lightfrom the at least one light source travels along the at least oneconduit.
 23. The game according to claim 21, the means for transmittinglight further comprises at least one conduit in the playing surface,such that light from the at least one light source radiates out andtravels along the at least one conduit.
 24. The game according to claim19, further comprising at least one sidewall arranged around and abovethe playing surface, the at least one sidewall capable of transmittingand radiating light.
 25. The game according to claim 19, furthercomprising: at least one representative player; and at least one playerlight source in the at least one representative player.
 26. The gameaccording to claim 25, further comprising means for supplying power tothe at least one player light source.
 27. The game according to claim26, wherein the means for supplying power includes at least one powerfeed arranged in a cross bar holding the at least one representativeplayer.
 28. A tabletop game, comprising: a playing surface; at least onerepresentative player residing above the playing surface; and at leastone player light source illuminating at least a portion of the at leastone representative player.
 29. The tabletop game according to claim 28,further comprising: means for supplying power to the at least one playerlight source.
 30. The tabletop game according to claim 29, wherein themeans for supplying power includes at least one battery in the at leastone representative player.
 31. The tabletop game according to claim 29,wherein the means for supplying power includes at least one power feed.32. The tabletop game according to claim 31, wherein the at least onepower feed resides in at least one cross bar arranged to hold the atleast one representative player above the playing surface.
 33. Thetabletop game according to claim 31, wherein the at least one power feedresides in at least one player track arranged to guide the at least onerepresentative player on the playing surface.
 34. The tabletop gameaccording to claim 28, wherein at least one portion of the playingsurface is capable of passing light.
 35. The tabletop game according toclaim 34, wherein the at least one portion of the playing surface istranslucent or transparent.
 36. The tabletop game according to claim 34,further comprising at least one playing surface light source arrangedsuch that light is viewable from above the playing surface through theat least one portion of the playing surface.
 37. The tabletop gameaccording to claim 36, wherein the at least one playing surface lightsource is arranged below the playing surface.
 38. The tabletop gameaccording to claim 36, wherein the at least one playing surface lightsource is arranged in the same plane as the playing surface.
 40. Thetabletop game according to claim 34, further comprising: a reflectivesurface below the playing surface.
 41. The tabletop game according toclaim 34, further comprising a reflective coating on a bottom of theplaying surface.
 42. A table top game, comprising: a playing surface; atleast one sidewall about at least a portion of the playing surface; andat least one light source arranged, such that light from the at leastone light source radiates from the at least one sidewall onto theplaying surface.
 43. The tabletop game according to claim 42, whereinthe light from the at least one light source traverses a translucentportion of the at least one sidewall.
 44. The tabletop game according toclaim 42, wherein the playing surface comprises a light passing sectionsuch that light from the at least one light source traverses through theat least one portion of the playing surface.
 45. The tabletop gameaccording to claim 42, wherein the at least one light source is at leastone of a florescent light, an incandescent light, a halogen light, alight string, a lcd, a led, a laser, an electroluminescent light source,a chemical light source, a light tube, or a flexible light wire.
 46. Thetabletop game according to claim 42, further comprising: at least onerepresentative player; and the at least one representative player havingat least one player light source.